Elliott SHINES, Salah proves his point: Liverpool 4-2 Spurs player ratings

Liverpool’s title hopes aren’t completely dead just yet after Jurgen Klopp’s side picked up a dramatic 4-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday.

The Reds put in a dominant first-half showing and Mohamed Salah, making his return to the starting eleven after his outburst against West Ham, put them in the lead after 16 minutes with a perfectly timed header at the back post.

Andrew Robertson doubled the side's lead just before the break, bagging his second in two games with a poacher’s finish.

The hosts maintained the same intensity after the break and Cody Gakpo made it 3-0 just five minutes after the restart with a powerful header.

Harvey Elliott then put Liverpool in dreamland with a world-class thunderbolt from the edge of the box.

However, quickfire goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-min set up a nervy finish for the Reds who were left somewhat hanging on for the final 15 minutes, especially as Joe Gomez’s late challenge went to a VAR check for a possible penalty.

Here are your player ratings…

Alisson (GK): 6

Besides some adept sweeping up, the Brazilian had nothing to do in the first half. Showed sharp reactions in the 53rd minute to hold on to Brennan Johnson’s close-range header but nearly undid the good work immediately after when he was almost robbed of the ball when he showed some hesitancy with his feet. Could do little to prevent either of Spurs’ goals.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB): 8

In tandem with Salah, Alexander-Arnold helped to maintain the Reds’ intensity down the right with quick, incisive passing. It was his cross from the right that perfectly picked out Robertson, leading to the second goal. Stood up well in his personal battle with Brennan Johnson, but didn’t fair so well against Richarlison who muscled him out of position in the build-up to the goal which made it 4-2. Desperately unlucky not to score from the halfway line.

Jarell Quansah (CB): 7

Made an important tackle just after the restart to dig Endo out of trouble and had a generally solid game until Richarlison’s introduction. The Brazilian clearly targeted the channel in behind the centre-back and had quite a bit of success in his 20 minutes on the pitch.

Virgil van Dijk (CB): 7

Spent much of the first half pinging long passes across the pitch with authority as the Reds dominated. However, like Quansah, struggled slightly as Spurs stepped up after the break.

Andrew Robertson (LB): 9

Made an important back-post intervention early on to deny a certain goal, but it was at the other end of the pitch where he made his most telling contribution, both getting on the end of the original cross, then being on hand to score a tap-in just before the break. It’s great to have him back, fit and firing.

Wataru Endo (DM): 5

Lovely switch of play to set Liverpool on their way to the opener, but gave the ball away in dangerous areas twice. Not his best game.

Harvey Elliott (CM): 10

A superb goal and assist for the Reds’ man of the match. Was instrumental in the Reds’ pressing on the day. Early on, he regained the ball excellently to carve out a chance for himself which was cleared off the line by Cristian Romero. He then found himself with the ball in the box after a misplaced pass but lacked the composure to pick the right pass.

Just after the break, it was a different story when he picked Emerson Royal’s pocket before chipping the ball to the back post for Gakpo to score. He then went one better to unleash an absolute thunderbolt in Salah-esque fashion to make it 4-0.

Alexis Mac Allister (CM): 7

Did important defensive work to protect the Reds’ left-hand side in the opening exchanges, then started to break free of the shackles and get involved further up the field. Was instrumental in the build-up to the second as his first-time pass opened up the play for Alexander-Arnold down the right but had an overall low-key day.

Mohamed Salah (RW): 8

Clearly had a point to prove today. Within the first 15 minutes alone, he was involved in three incidents. First, intentional or not, he had the Reds’ first chance of the game with his outside-of-the-foot effort coming back out off the top of the crossbar. Then, he forced Vicario into a save with his feet from a tight angle, before opening the scoring with a header after a perfectly timed run. Was unlucky that Vicario produced a superb save to deny him a second; luckily Robertson was on hand for the rebound. Teed up Elliott for his thunderbolt, too.

Cody Gakpo (ST): 8

Another player with goal and an assist. In his real first involvement of the game, he cut in from the left to deliver a perfectly weighted dink to the back post for Salah to covert. Frequently found himself in pockets off the left and linked well with his fellow forwards. His header early in the second half was the cherry on the cake.

Luis Diaz (LW): 6

Had the crowd on its feet just before half time when he attempted an audacious overhead kick which ultimately ended up well wide of the target. However, it was a quiet game overall by his usual high-energy standards.

Substitutes

Stefan Bajcetic (Endo, 63’): 5

Good to see the young Spaniard back after so long but, sadly for him, his introduction coincided with Spurs’ resurgence.

Joe Gomez (Robertson, 63’): 6

Some excellent last-gasp defending against Johnson on the line when Spurs were threatening to make it 4-3.

Ryan Gravenberch (Mac Allister, 73’): 6

Made an important penalty-area block in stoppage time.

Darwin Nunez (Diaz, 73’): 7

Could have put the game to bed in stoppage time but waited too long to play the pass. Marginally offside before he put it on a plate for Salah’s disallowed goal.

Dominik Szoboszlai (Elliott, 83’): N/A

Had a good chance to score but chose the wrong option.